Restorable blowout indicating fuse



- June 29, 1948. J E. KOSTUR l REsToRABLE BLowoUT INDIGATING FUSE Filed Aug. 6, 1943 @htm/man Patented June 29,'` 1948 @UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESTORABLE BLOWOUT INDICATING FUSE J Edward Kostur, Amarillo, Tex.

Application August 6, 1943, Serial No. 497,662

2 Claims. (Cl. 20G-121) This invention relates to an electric fuse, and aims to provide a novel, efficient, simple, and durable construction in which a blownout condition will be indicated and which may be restored to condition for reuse by replacement of a fusible element.

It is especially aimed to provide a structure, attaining the end stated, which nevertheless is airtight, shockproof, and inexpensive.

It is particularly aimed to provide such a fuse having a removable elastic closure against which an element is moveable to bulge or distort it, and which normally is restrained against such function by the presence of a fusible element.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the fuse;

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout the different views, I represents a generally cup-shaped body of insulation of any suitable character such as glass, Bakelite, porcelain, or the equivalent. This body at one end has a wall II and at its other end is open, preferably having a reinforcing marginal ring or rim I 2 with an interior shoulder I3 therein.

The fuse is constructed so as to be screwed into place like the ordinary or conventional fuses, in boxes, panels, or the like, and therefore has a central contact as at I4, and a screw-threaded shell as at I5.

The contact or conductor I4 is fastened in place in any suitable manner and usually screwthreaded to the end of a hook I 6 at Il, the shank I8 of the hook being anchored in the wall II so that the hook I6 will be located interiorly thereof.

The shell or conductor I is fastened onto the side of-cylindrical wall of the body IIJ forwardly of the rim I2. A second hook is shown at I9 located interiorly of the body Il! at the free end .v

of an inwardly or radially extending arm 20, whose outer portion is anchored in the body I0 and terminates in a corrugated portion 2l intimately fitted against the interior of the shell I5 and held in place between the same and the body 0f insulation I0. The elements I9, 20, and 2| preferably are in a single piece and of conducting material and usually a length of metallic wire, so that the arm 20 unless restrained will assume or spring into the dotted-line position shown in Figure 2.

A fusible link provided at 22, being made of any conventional fusible material, usually primarily of lead, and adjacent its ends it has openings 23 whereby the same may be attached to the hooks I6 and I9. Such fuse is of suicient strength, under normal conditions and when the parts are in conducting relation, to hold arm 20 retracted as shown in full-line position in Figure f 2. However, when the fuse blows or is disrupted by short circuit, overload, or the like, arm 20 will be released and will spring to the dotted line position of Figure 2.

The open end of the fuse normally is closed in an air-tight manner and in such a way as to avoid shock or contact with any conducting parts, through the medium of a removable diaphragm disc 24 which preferably is of elastic material and primarily of rubber so as normally to assume the full-line position shown in Figure 2. Marginally the dise 24 preferably is strengthened by an enlarged bead 25. This bead is inserted into the rim I2 to bear against the inner surface of the latter and the shoulder I3, thus sealing the interior of the fuse. At the same time bead 25 is slightly oversized so that it will be compressed when engaged with the walls mentioned and will remain accordingly in place through its inherent expansion, although capable of being removed when desired. Since the disc 24 is elastic and expansible the arm 20, when sprung into dotted-line position shown in Figure 2., will bulge the disc so that its exterior surface will be irregular. Thus in the blowing or disruption of a fuse, the blownout condition will be indicated by the bulgecl condition of the disc and, if light is not available, such condition will be indicated in the dark by moving the hand or fingers over the disc.

It will be clear that upon removal of the disc 24 the disrupted fragments of the blown fuse will be removed, and new fusible elements or strips 22 may be used by hooking the same at openings 23 to the hooks I6 and I3. f

It thus will be realized that the fuse, notwithstanding the novel advantages, nevertheless is safe for use even if subjected to inflammable gases, and also is shockproof, airtight, and inexpensive.

3 that they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fuse comprising a body of insulation, a Contact jacket at the outside of the body, said body being hollow and provided with a centrally located contact at one end thereof, the other end of the body being provided with an internal shoulder, an annulus for snug disposition within the latter end of the body and against the shoulder, said annulus being provided with a flexible iiller disc closing the adjacent end of the body, a fusible element, a pair of carriers for the fusible element, one extending inwardly freni the J'ket and the other inwardly from the Contact, the carrier extending inwardly from the jacket being of spring lmaterial and adapted t0 spring outwardly to bulge the disc outwardly when disruption of the fusible element occurs.

2. A fuse comprising a body of insulation, a wie@ jacket .at the musici@ .or the mdr, en heey being hollow and provided with e etrelly minted come@ et. en@ .end thereof, the :other @mi 0f #be body beine provided with en internal shimmer, en @milles fer Snug dispnsitien within the latter end 0f the body and against the shoul- REFERENCES CITED The :following references are of record in the le of this patent:l

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,101,946;` Miller June 30,1914 1,301,009 Schoenberg Apr, 15 1919 1,645,344 oBrien oct; 11, 1927 1,741,018 Gilliam Dee, `24, 1929 alsels Rankin Jan. 30, l1940 

